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How to Manage Pests

Identification: Weed Photo Gallery

Groundcherries

Scientific name: Physalis spp. (Family Solanaceae)

Life stages of Groundcherries top left picture bottom left picture right picture

Click on image to enlarge

DESCRIPTION:
Groundcherries are bushy summer annual or perennial broadleaf weeds. Cotyledons are yellow-green to gray-green. First leaves are oval to triangular, have smooth or slightly wavy margins, and a strong odor when crushed. Mature plants have erect, hairy stems that form many branches. Leaves may be oval, triangular, or lance-shaped, and have toothed, smooth, or wavy margins depending on species and growing conditions. The narrow bell-shaped flowers have five lobes and are yellow or whitish with yellow, green, or purple centers. A distinctive papery husk, often with green or purple veins, surrounds the fruit, which is green, yellowish, or purple and the size of a cherry. Seeds are small and round or kidney-shaped. Flower color, fruit color and seed shape vary with species. Lanceleaf groundcherry is shown here.

Broadleaf ID illustration.


Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/WEEDS/groundcherries.html revised: March 11, 2008. Contact webmaster.